Trek to Medigeshi

When I searched on net about “Medigeshi” there was no information about the place in regard with trek. All I could get was of some SBI bank address and so. Then I decided that of making a document for my fellow trekkers (whom I may not even know) or maybe I could use this some time in future. Though I started writing about this place much before from by trek to Savanadurga, I didn’t complete it for so many days. That’s the reason have asked you to knock on my head.
This place is at 140 kms from Bangalore. BTW I need to mention that we took NICE road from Kengari to Tumkur road which saved us from huge trucks, lorries and road constructions. I, Kiran and Arjun left in Arjun’s Maruti 800 at 7am on the 10th October from our usual point. It was Arjun who came up with this place, he had read about this place sometime ago and wanted to make it up for this place. The name came from a princes whose hair was long enough to touch her ankle.

Now coming to the actual trek – Since our breakfast was already packed we took a break near a turning point to Devarayana Durga for breakfast. After breakfast we continued and had many mini breaks in between to click photographs of bee eaters, king fisher, parrots etc. One can find good number of birds on this stretch.May be that’s the reason Arjun loves this route. We reached this place around 10.00 am and parked our car. At the very next moment we were approached by a villager asking if we need a guide and its quite trick to go by our own. We agreed on this though we none of us spoke about the guide fees. Since the fellow (sorry about not remembering his name) who had to take us was having breakfast we thought of having a round in the temple at the Base of the mountain.

As always it was a good start, but Mr. Sun was not kind on us and soon all of us were exhausted except our guide. We took a break in one of the watch tower. This gave us some nice relief with work for our cameras. Our guide had a look which said – at this point when you are clicking so may pictures how many will you click when you climb on top. Yes, he was right it was very nice view on top of the hill. Also the surprise for me & Kiran was there was a ruined tomb on top of the hill. That gave us all our lost energy back. We did do couple of breaks in between and each time we took a break at some shaded place, like a watch tower or the start point of the stair case or at the entrance of the fort... each time it was so relaxing and excellent secrecies. In each break we tried to show of our “Geographical Knowledge” by trying to identify that hill is this and that road leads to this place etc.

By 1.5 to 2 hrs of treks we were on top of the hills. You can blame me for taking so long to trek since I like to take lots of pictures I killed there time also. But both of them were kind enough by not stopping me. We spend more than an hour on top. On top of the hill there is a small tank (kalyani) where in a frog family allowed us to expertise our photographic skills with its moments. Also there is a natural well, which people used for water storage in those days. Though we could find some good amount of water (without any bad smell) it was trick to reach the water to even touch it. Just then we noticed a spider, you can see him below. And you are right all of us started clicking in various angels, heights, styles etc. BTW, one important thing to note is none of us are Pro graphers. But we like to click pictures that too with our point and shoot cameras. Each one of us had approx of 300+ photographs by the end of the day. Just image if we were pro and had DSLR’s .....

Now we took a short look at inside space of the tomb. Our guide said that recently few people had dug up the place with a rumour of having some wealth (Nidhi in Kannda). But no luck, they found nothing.We climbed around 20 tiny stair to reach the top of the tomb. Here all of us was more of photographers.We all started taking each other’s and some self graphs. At the back side of the tomb there are some small rooms where people/guards of the fort used to stay, cook, have bath etc.Now that we were done with climbing, clicking, resting, we started down and reached much faster as we had extra + + + + energy by the views, wind, breeze sound, frog gave us on top of the hill. We rested for some time at the temple entrance and were just about to leave the place I sighted a woodpecker... common no prizes for guessing all us went clicking with our machines. Alas, I think it got bored by us, it flew away. But we were happy to click it form so near. We started back and then reached Madhugiri for our lunch. Finished the lunch on the way back we thought let’s make a short visit to Goravanahalli. Went to the temple & also to “Thitha” dam. Dam was good with almost filled with the water to larger extent. Took a short walk on the dam and came back for a coffee/tea. Drank T in a nearby shop and straight drove back to Bangalore. But to our bad luck we got stuck in a horrible traffic just ~ 5 kms from Tumkur toll gate. The reason was due to a truck had lost the balance and had hit a power transmitter on the ride side. For this effect there was a high power live wire on Blr-Tum road side so all the traffic was diverted to Tum-Blr road. Thank god no casualties. Also need to thank a KSRTC Bus driver who made a (new) extended road on the left side of the road. If we wouldn’t have followed him we wouldn’t have reach home not earlier than 11pm.
And that’s the end of “Trek to Medigeshi”

Savanadurga, Manchanabele Dam & Big Banyan tree

Had been to Savanadurga, Manchanabele Dam and Big Banyan tree 19th Dec 09.

We left our usual spot at 7am and took a break to Bidadi for packing breakfast. Ride till then was extremely nice….. zooming bike ride in the morning breeze. We could see that Sun was taking his own time to peep thru the clouds, it looked like even he did not wanted to rise early. By the time we could sip coffee our breakfast was packed. Without wasting any time we continued our ride towards Savanadurga. Reached the main point (traffic signal @ Ramangara) where we have to take a right turn. From this point SD is at 24kms of distance. On the way we saw lots of green pasture and well cultivated plots. But I was disappointed as could not sight a single bird.

Reached the point by 8.45am. We were welcomed with whole bunch of beggars as usual one can sight this at most of the temple premises. Usually this doesn’t make a note in mind, but somehow this time it took a while for me to ignore/ forget them. As the temple was not opened we decided to hike. I was taken for a surprise as a local DOG became our guide. And we thought of not following it for some time and guess what.... it always went at the right route and waited there for us. But it was very adamant by not standing in front of the camera, not even for a second!!! He always made a face when I took my Canon out to click him and went far way. After some time he was sure that we were on the right way… yes you guessed it he left u mid way and went back.
We took a break after ¾ of the trek since I was hungry and had no energy to climb up. It was a good half an hr break with nice idly with cold breeze and some beautiful scenery. We did some clicks and it was around 10am and still there was no sign of any other trekkers/visitors. After the breakfast break we continued to reach top. And need not explain it was wonderful… amazing scenery. The view of Manchanabele dam from top was very nice.

Started climbing down and we were almost 30 meters away from the base point we spotted few more trekkers and a bus of school kids. Came down, went around the temple and drank a tender coconut. We were back to normal energy and left to the “PARK”. This park is just a few mins of ride from the base temple. Previous time I had been there I could see some animals, but this time it was so disappointing to see a very informative board at the entrance.

Which said “No wild animals in this park”. Pay 1Re to enter!! Ok, anyways we had come till there so that of talking a short walk. Did a short walk inside the park and need not to say it was disappointing. We didn’t spend much time there and soon started towards destination 2 –Manchanabele dam.

There is 2 ways of reaching this place; one is by walk from base of Savanadurga its 3 kms from one side. Another one is by road and approx of 12kms from Savanadurga. We took the later one. But on the way we missed out the turn which will lead us to the Dam and had almost gone 4-5 kms further. Once realized, took a u turn and back. Again here we read one stupid board and went further ahead, need not say once again a u turn and come down near the dam. And we road almost for 10 kms to reach the military camp. This camp is at the end of the dam and here is where we got to see fee birds. Spend more than an hr at this place and tool some nice picture. By then we heard a Hungry alarm from our stomachs, so we started back. Can you believe we gain took a wrong turn and were almost heading back to Savanadurga!! God…. Man. We asked some one for the right route and took the right route. On the way to Big Banyan Tree we saw the new ISRO signal center. And this is what happens when something so important is in between neglected villages. I mean that road from Savanadurga till the Dam is very good and little further from Dam till ISRO … don’t even ask there is no road at all. And guess what just 5 mins before ISRO plot till BB Tree the road is in excellent condition.

Reached our 3rd Destination – Big Banyan Tree. All the time we spent there, we were trying to locate the oldest tree. And were rigorously failing to identify the right one. Didn’t even spend half an hr there, drank another tender coconut and started towards Bangalore.




That was the end of the half day outing.

Madakashira

Madakashira is one of those forts which are not difficult to trek apart from only one place. Of course there should be some part of difficulty in trekking if not where is the fun …..

We left Bangalore at 5.25 am on the 30th October 2009 and after took a break at 6kms before Goravanahalli for a small tea. And then continued towards Madaskhira and reached it by 9.30am. Don’t you wonder why took so long… me and my trek companion Arjun are also interested in clicking pictures of birds. And one can see Kingfisher, Bee eater and few other varieties of birds. So as and when we sighted birds we stopped the car, this took us extra time to reach the place. The next break was at Madhugiri for Breakfast. We had yummy idli and unforgettable chattni at one of the Brahmin’s restaurant. And then with extra josh we started towards Madakashira. Its approx of 30 kms from Medigeshi (another partial fort we had trekked almost a month ago). On the way we came across a nice lake with few birds and then reached Madakashira. Started searching for a place to park the car and we were enquiring with every passerby for the entrance to the Fort. All the trek palaces, forts I have seen are quite far away from the village but to my surprise this fort’s entrance in between few houses and the actual start point for the trek is literally behind someone’s home!

Just a few steps from behind some one home there is a remaining part of a welcome arch. We kept on following the steps and there were lots of human made walk ways, just keep following any one of them around 10 yards from here we got to see the standard ASI board which meant no meaning for the fort. Alongside this board was a small statue of Hanuman which looked like it was worshipped that day morning! Around 50 steps and then we reached a platform where we relaxed for approx of 15 mins, this place had good shad and the breeze we got made us stay there for more time. On to left had side we sighted a secret pathway which was deep and step. Also it looked like it was closed recently. After the break we continued little further and were surprised to see a huge bunch of goats. Of course they did pose for us as if they were very familiar with trekkers and cameras. 

The path continues a little head and takes a right turn we one needs to climb + jump a 5 ft rock to continue. I call it dangerous as on to the left hand there is a deep step with sharp rocks and to the right it’s a huge pit with full of thorn plants. Due to my fellow trekker I did not fall into either of the one! But nothing to worry as the history goes - me getting hurt in each trek this time also I meant with a tiny accident made by a thorn plant. So let’s get back to trek…. 10 steps after this jump rock we were greeted with a nice watch tower kind of arch. Though it was in good condition it was decorated with love names of people who have visited the fort. Once entered it felt like we were at a huge well planned entrance which was built for multipurpose say like halting place for couple of horses and large view point. Thru one of the view point we could see 180 degree of the city. Have confidently forgotten about the history of this fort but all I can see is I liked this view point a lot.

Then main fort is divided into three divisions by structure. On to the left side its only view points to the center it has a natural pond and a huge elevated watch tower and to the right a path which leads to another natural pond and a Shiva temple. This temple looked like it was visited for puja quite often. From here there are more and neat structured steps which leads to another adjacent hill which is also covered by this fort. There were many monkey families on that hill and 2 of us this side so we decided not to risk our lives and head backwards the return path. One thing to mention there are lots of points or places for resting with good shade and breeze along with few nice backdrops for photography. We were fast in coming down as against our other treks where we take our own good time to come down as if those places belonged to us . As soon as we reached down we headed towards Hemavathi.. Another interesting place which has a history beyond Karnataka and AP division. I’ll write about this under a separate heading.


Am keeping this write up with very less photographs, if you need more details drop me an email with your orkut/hotmail id so that I can share the same with.Though I had been to this trek in 2009 October, by the time I could complete this write up it was July 2010